AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands has the potential to become a global leader in developing Lab-on-Chip (LoC) technologies, according to a new report from Invest-NL’s Deep Tech Fund. While the country shows promise in this field, Europe as a whole is falling behind the United States in advancing key technologies. 

Lab-on-Chip technology integrates miniature laboratories onto chips just a few square centimeters in size, allowing for efficient chemical and biological analyses to take place. The report notes that, despite the Netherlands' academic hubs and strong startup culture, many companies struggle to enter the market due to a lack of funding. Gert-Jan Vaessen, fund manager of the Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund, stressed that a national strategy and targeted investment could help strengthen the sector. 

Meanwhile, a warning from the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) emphasizes Europe's growing reliance on the U.S. for technology. CPB researcher Debby Lanser pointed out that Europe lacks a single world-class tech company, while American giants like Microsoft and Google dominate the global market. Lanser mentioned that changes in U.S. policy could threaten the Dutch economy, by restricting access to needed technology. 

To close the gap, Lanser advised the Dutch government to increase spending on research and development, noting that the U.S. allocates 3.5% of its GDP to R&D, compared to the Netherlands’ 1.6% to 2.3%. She warned that Europe has already missed opportunities in areas like cloud computing and defense technology, where American companies lead. 

Lanser also highlighted Europe's reliance on U.S. defense supplies, with 66% of European weapons coming from American manufacturers. Any changes in U.S. policy, she noted, could seriously impact Europe's defense capabilities.